Seemingly I obviously do not trust my own instinct or the path of my own Karma at times yet, on this road we are on. This experience, this “jaunt” from point A to point B in a timely manner has been a new experience for us, a new experience I did not originally take on too well. My old self, the one that suddenly re-discovered the flows of a past Life within this facet of days away from “The Oasis” or isolated spaces, did rebel against it all. Friendships are “golden”, true ones, outspoken ones, unselfish ones sending words of the wise within a soul and spirit in parallel with mine as the ones received today asking me, or more, pointing out why so much negativism toward these past days events on the pathway we have been on? I wrote the words myself, I read them over never realizing this time the depth of it’s true meaning. Crowded Freeways, traffic, bad weather, an overall dissatisfaction of a slice of this Journey never alike from one day to another. And of course those words were of their true value, they woke me up from this stupor I was falling deep into it’s bowels.

My own values within the serenity of “The Oasis”, these senses so well polished day after day have been roughed up since we have left. My Friend’s words made me realize a bit of my selfishness toward a World that still revolves from a need toward many which their lives have to go on in a manner so different than mine, a different book cover that I feel I disrespected only because mine is now so different. There is more to Life than my own and I think I forgot about it, I think I filed it all up in an obscure section I thought there would be no beauty or value into it. It was my “wake up” call today as suddenly like a bright light upon me my vision so instantly changed and again my senses regained their ability to appreciate their surroundings whatever they might be.

Crowds became humbling as one can feel so minute amongst them all, “us” being so equal. Traffic woke up and rekindled the fact that so many are on their own pathways “needing” themselves to go on from their own point “A” to point “B” as short or long that route may be. I smiled to strangers and they smiled back, Spirit smiled also, the poor soul tired a bit of these 300 mile plus days! He still stood up proud and posing to have his picture taken and I know that we, ourselves brightened up the day for others that otherwise would have not experienced his rays of sunshine. Isn’t it amazing what a few words from a true Friend can do?… when one listens that is and when that Friend truly cares unselfishly. Thanks Kristi… otherwise also known as GypsyRR in our comments here, another free spirited soul amongst us all with a big heart and a wise soul.

We left Casa Grande this morning after spending the night at Wallace’s and Lynn’s home who graciously opened up their doors to us. The colors had taken on different hues, there was this renewed energy while riding through Phoenix within a Saturday morning traffic that was rolling at just the right speed for us. I realized that considering the distance of this travel, there really was not too many Freeways to ride on as right away we headed north on 303 and 93 toward Las Vegas which we had hoped to reach by tonight. It seems that those few photos will be the last of the sunshine we will see for a few days as rain and cold icy winds took its place for the rest of the daylight hours.

We made it to near by Kingman and… that was it. Motel 6’s are not in my budget but they are our savior as Spirit is also always welcome. Checking the weather for the rest of the route showed much rain also in Death Valley and flash floods that have closed many roads including the one to Stovepipe Wells where we will be camping a few days while also meeting Brian from Placerville, California. You will finally get to meet the man responsible for all the nuts and bolts of this web site, my Friend that has donated so generously his time for the past two years, always making sure this well oiled canvas would never fail and going smoothly through the motions of it’s changes and growth as myself being a total “ignoramus” within this all. I only write, post photos and click on that “publish” icon… What a good fortune has come our way!

We are still hoping to make it to Death Valley tomorrow. Will wear just about everything we have, stay warm and dry for the 240 miles or so left. This weather, totally clearing up by Tuesday should make up for some great photography, clouds being always welcome amongst the blue skies of Mother Nature doing a bit of refreshing and clean up these days.

Another gate we have gone through…

Twenty eight months of Photography is finally in order on SmugMug… In “Your Favorites”, in “States”, some labeled “first year” and second year”, now also “Texas the third year”. Feel free to browse, you can even use the slide show mode and have fun.

4 Responses to “A "wake up" call… to Death Valley”

We are one day behind you, traveling the same roads. What fun to see the places in your photos in almost “real time”! We stop now in Phoenix, though. Wish we were going to Death Valley, but have another purpose here. I am test riding scooters, looking to replace my under-powered 49cc Honda Metropolitan with a zippier Yamaha Vino 125.

I well remember the long days and wonderful journeys on our larger bikes, too. I had a Kawasaki Concours that I adored, followed by a Honda ST1100 that was much more reliable and comfortable. We will return to motorcycle touring one of these days, but in the meantime use our little 2-wheelers for around-town transport and quick smiles.

Hey Ara ; My name is Walter Galvez,
Rodolfo Tenorio , decide to send your photos because he, seem to see a good resemblance of us , both he said ; look alike , and after i saw your pictures , I think myself ,” …well that’s true “. so please watch my pictures at my site …( also , I’m the one to introduce to Rodolfo to the passion of the motorcycle…long time ago . to be exact , july of 1980, here in California. is really estrange but I cook good my own Country recipes (Peru) same country as Rodolfo, but my wife Dora , inherit all , because now she surpass all what I did in the kitchen, we dream to put a good restaurant Peruvian one. but we didn’t wake up yet , only dreams … next time Rudy , or your came close to LA … REMEMBER Rodolfo’s friend’s are mine too…GOD BLESS YOU …